Substitute smoking article dispensing oxygen to provide a physiological lift

ABSTRACT

A simulated smoking article has a container of oxygen under pressure in a tubular casing. A valve assembly operated by orally exerted pressure discharges the oxygen into a mixing chamber. A mixture of air and oxygen is then passed to the mouth of the user. A flavorful, fragrant filler in the chamber imparts a pleasant flavor and odor to the gaseous mixture. The supply of oxygen can be replenished without removal of the container from the casing.

United States Patent Inventor Harold V. Taylor Scarsdale, N.Y.

Appl. No. 859,837

Filed Sept. 22, 1969 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 Assignee Ruth E. TaylorScarsdale, N.Y. a part interest SUBSTITUTE SMOKING ARTICLE DISPENSINGOXYGEN TO PROVIDE A PHYSIOLOGICAL LIFT 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,030 8/1936 Dalinda128/208 UX 2,651,303 9/1953 Johnson et al. 128/203 2,809,634 10/1957Murai 128/195 3,425,414 2/1969 Roche 128/20] Primary ExaminerRichard A.Gaudet Assistant ExaminerG. F. Dunne Att0rneyPolachek & SaulsburyABSTRACT: A simulated smoking article has a container of oxygen underpressure in a tubular casing. A valve assembly operated by orallyexerted pressure discharges the oxygen into a mixing chamber. A mixtureof air and oxygen is then passed to the mouth of the user. A flavorful,fragrant filler in the chamber imparts a pleasant flavor and odor to thegaseous mixture. The supply of oxygen can be replenished without removalof the container from the casing.

OXYGE N UNDER PRESSURE u.s.c| 128/208, 131/170 1111. (I A6lml5/06 FieldofSearch 128/208, 20l,l95,206;l3l/170 v 66 a i 5g \.s

OXYGEN U/VDER PRESSURE INVENTOR.

flaro/dl/Ey/ar WWI/7 PATENTED AN 4 I97? SUBSTITUTE SMOKING ARTICLEDISPENSING OXYGEN TO PROVIDE A PHYSIOLOGICAL LIFI This inventionconcerns a simulated smoking article such as a cigarette or cigarcontaining a supply of oxygen and valve means for dispensing a flavoredair-oxygen mixture.

Previously, simulated cigarettes and cigars have been proposed todispense flavored air. This failed to satisfy the primary requirement ofan adequate substitute for tobacco smoke, namely, to provide apsychological and physiological lift when needed or desired.

A confirmed smoker finds it difficult to give up smoking even when hewishes to because he depends on smoking of tobacco to give him a liftwhen he is tired or tense or while trying to cope with a problem.Smoking relaxes him when he is subjected to mental or physical stress.In order to give up smoking without experiencing trauma, the confirmedsmoker needs a substitute which will give him a true physiological liftwhich is noninjurious and which may even be beneficial. Onelift-providing substitute for tobacco smoke is oxygen. Oxygen is a basicrequirement to life. In pure form it is harmless when inhaled inreasonable amounts.

The present invention is directed at providing a device in the form of asimulated smoking article such as a cigarette or cigar, adapted todispense an air-oxygen mixture in sufficient concentration to provide atrue physiological lift which is the smokers primary desire andrequirement when he smokes. Means for providing a pleasant flavor whichmay be tobacco flavor can be included in the device. The device is lightin weight and easily held in the mouth. The device includes a mouthoperated valve assembly for dispensing oxygen. The device is arranged sothat the oxygen supply can be replenished.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a devicehaving the appearance, size and feel of a smoking article to dispense aflavored air-oxygen mixture orally.

Another object is to provide a simulated smoking article resembling acigarette or cigar and having a mouth operated valve for dispensingoxygen.

A further object is to provide an article as described, with means forreplenishing the oxygen supply.

For further comprehension of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. I is a lateral perspective view of a simulated cigarette embodyingthe invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view with part omittedtaken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are cross sectional views taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4respectively of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5 ofFIG. 3 and oriented perpendicular to the view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a lateral perspective view of a simulated cigar embodying theinvention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarge longitudinal sectional view with part omitted takenon line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a valve assembly employed in both thesimulated cigarette and simulated cigar.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a device 10 simulating acigarette. The device has a cylindrical body defined by a cylindricalrigid casing 12 closed at end 14 and open at end 16. The casing may bemade of metal or of synthetic resin such as an acrylic or other suitableplastic. Surrounding the casing is a tubular paper cover or jacket 18.End of the paper cover may have a printed impression 21 simulating aline of combustion and a cylindrical ash. Overlaying the forward end ofthe cover 18 and casing 12 is a tubular mouthpiece 22 made of cork orartificial or simulated cork. This mouthpiece may be removable forpurposes described below. Diarnetrically opposed holes 24 are formed inthe cover 18 and casing 12 to admit air into chamber 25 inside thedevice.

The casing contains a nonporous, flexible, tubular envelope 30 closed atend 32 and having a long, narrow nipple 34 at its forward end. Theenvelope contains compressed oxygen at rather high pressure. Nipple 34extends through a tapered hole 36 in a spacer and sealing disk 38secured inside the casing at the forward end of envelope 30. The nippleextends further between clamping jaws 40, located at the rear ends oflevers 44, 46. The levers and jaws form parts of a valve assembly 50.The levers are pivotally mounted on pins 48 between spaced frame bars49; see FIGS. 2-6 and 9. The levers are flat and coplanar. The bars areparallel to and are located outwardly of the levers. Top and bottomedges of the bars 49 are secured by cement or otherwise to the insidewall of the casing near its forward open end. The jaws 40, 42 aregenerally semicircular in form with flattened side edges 52. Grooves 56extend circumferentially around the jaws and engage an endless elasticband 58. The bottom edge of upper jaw 40 is formed with a transverse ordiametral V-shaped groove 60. The upper edge 62 of lower jaw 42 is wedgeshaped to fit snugly into groove 60 under tension band 58. The nipple 34is engaged the jaws and is tightly closed. The free forward end ofnipple 34 extends laterally of the frame bars and opens into chamber 25just forwardly of holes 24.

In the forward part of chamber 25 is a filling 64 of granular, volatile,flavorful, fragrant material. Alternatively a fibrous filling can beprovided impregnated with a volatile flavorful, fragrant substance. Thismay have tobacco flavor and odor or other suitable flavor and odor.Filling 64 extends forwardly up to a cylindrical, porous filter 66fitted inside of mouthpiece 22. Forward end of the levers define armswhich extend into the front end portion of the device. The arms arepivotable toward each other to separate jaws 40, 42 for releasing oxygenfrom the envelope 30 through nipple 34, when the mouthpiece is radiallycompressed.

In operation of the device, a smoker holds the device 10 in his mouthwith lips and/or teeth engaging mouthpiece 22. By biting or pressingmouthpiece inwardly diametrically, the arms of the levers are pivotedtoward each other separating jaws 40, 42 and releasing pure oxygen intochamber 25. The smoker then sucks or draws gently on the mouthpiece asif he were smoking a cigarette. This draws air into the chamber 25through holes 24 to mix with the oxygen. The air-oxygen mixture thenpasses through filter material 66, flavored, fragrant filling 64 andfilter 66 to enter the smokers mouth. When he relaxes his bite orpressure on the mouthpiece the clamping jaws 40, 42 move together andhermetically close the nipple to seal the envelope.

The oxygen supply may have an extended useful life since it is only usedin short puffs. When the oxygen supply is exhausted, the mouthpiece 22along with filters 66 and 66' can be pulled away from the device. Theremainder of the fragrant, flavored filling 64 can be poured out orpulled out. This will expose the free end of nipple 34. This nipple canbe engaged with a suitable fitting (not shown) of a reserve tank ofcompressed oxygen. While the levers 44, 46 are tilted toward each otherat the open end of the casing to open the valve jaws 40, 42, oxygen canbe passed into the envelope. After the envelope is filled a freshfilling 64 can be inserted into chamber 25 along with a new filter 66and 66 and mouthpiece 22.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another device 10A which is generally similar todevice 10 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. Device 10Ais arranged to simulate a cigar. The cover 180 extends forwardly ofcasing 120 and is covered with several layers of tobacco wrapper 70.Alternatively a plastic sheet material printed or colored to resemble atobacco leaf wrapper can be provided. The front end 72 of the device isrounded like a conventional cigar and a draw hole 74 is provided at thisend. Hole 74 opens into chamber 25' which contains filter material 66aand 66a and flavored, fragrant filler 64.

In order to facilitate recharging envelope 300 with oxygen, anothernipple can be provided at the rear end of envelope 30a in the device.The nipple is covered and protected by a screw plug 82 in the rear endof casing 120. A one-way ball valve 84 closes nipple 80. When the screwplug is removed from the casing end 140, nipple 80 is exposed. This canbe engaged by a suitable fitting of a reserve tank of compressed oxygen.By this arrangement it is not necessary to remove the filter 66a andfilling 64 to gain access to nipple 34 as is required in device forreplenishing the oxygen supply.

Since the devices 10 and 10A may be made of relatively inexpensiveflexible or rigid plastic parts according to the functions to beperformed, the devices can be discarded after the oxygen supply isexhausted. Valve 84 and nipple 80 would not be required; For instance,this is effected by removal of the wrapper and recharging the envelope300 through the nipple 34a and a new filter and flavoring materialreplaced and the assembly rewrapper to provide a new cover or jacket18a.

in both forms of the invention and in others which can readily bedevised embodying the principles of construction and operation asdescribed, the user is supplied with a true physiological feeling ofmild exhilaration, imparted by the inhalation of a rich, flavorful,fragrant air-oxygen mixture. The dosage is entirely hannless and mayeven be beneficial in helping to clear smokers lungs and purify hisbloodstream.

The devices are psychologically satisfying because the user does notreceive a physiological and psychological lift from using the device. Hesmoked in a conventional way. The devices closely simulate smokingarticles with which the smoker is familiar.

What is claimed is:

1. A simulated smoking article, comprising: a generally cylindricalhollow body having a flexible open front end portion adapted to serve asa mouthpiece, and a rigid rear end portion; a container for oxygendisposed in the rigid rear por tion of said body, said container havingoutlet means at its forward end; and a valve assembly in said bodyoperatively engaged with said outlet means for opening and closing thesame and having operating means extending into the front end portion ofsaid body for actuation when said front end portion is orally compressedradially to discharge oxygen axially through said mouthpiece, said valveassembly comprising a support fixed in said body, a pair of leverspivotally engaged on said support, a pair of jaws on rear ends of saidlevers opposing each other to engage the outlet means of the container,and elastic means engaged with said jaws, yieldably holding the jawstogether and clamping said outlet means closed, said levers having armsextending into the front end portion of said body for pivoting thelevers to open and close said outlet means when the mouthpiece isrespectively compressed and expanded radially; a rigid casing in therear end portion of said body, said casing having an open front end andclosed rear end, said container being a flexible envelope in the casing,and said outlet means being a flexible tube extending between said jawsand engaged thereby for holding the container closed.

2. A simulated smoking article as defined in claim 1, further comprisinga mass of volatile fragrant material in the front end portion of saidbody, whereby the oxygen passes through said material and is dischargedin a fragrant condition from the mouthpiece.

3. A simulated smoking article as defined in claim 1, wherein said bodyhas at least one lateral opening spaced forwardly of the forward end ofsaid container for admitting air to mix with oxygen released fromcontainer whereby an air-oxygen mixture is discharged from themouthpiece when suction is applied thereto while the mouthpiece iscompressed radially.

4. A simulated smoking article as defined in claim 3, wherein themouthpiece is removable to expose said flexible tube for refilling saidenvelope with oxygen when the levers are pivoted to separate the jaws.

5. A simulated smoking article as defined in claim 3, further comprisingan outer covering on said body resembling a tobacco leaf wrapper.

6. A simulated smoking article as defined in claim 3, further comprisingvalve means at the rear end of the casing opening into said containerfor refilling the sarn e with oxygen.

1. A simulated smoking article, comprising: a generally cylindricalhollow body having a flexible open front end portion adapted to serve asa mouthpiece, and a rigid rear end portion; a container for oxygendisposed in the rigid rear portion of said body, said container havingoutlet means at its forward end; and a valve assembly in said bodyoperatively engaged with said outlet means for opening and closing thesame and having operating means extending into the front end portion ofsaid body for actuation when said front end portion is orally compressedradially to discharge oxygen axially through said mouthpiece, said valveassembly comprising a support fixed in said body, a pair of leverspivotally engaged on said support, a pair of jaws on rear ends of saidlevers opposing each other to engage the outlet means of the container,and elastic means engaged with said jaws, yieldably holding the jawstogether and clamping said outlet means cloSed, said levers having armsextending into the front end portion of said body for pivoting thelevers to open and close said outlet means when the mouthpiece isrespectively compressed and expanded radially; a rigid casing in therear end portion of said body, said casing having an open front end andclosed rear end, said container being a flexible envelope in the casing,and said outlet means being a flexible tube extending between said jawsand engaged thereby for holding the container closed.
 2. A simulatedsmoking article as defined in claim 1, further comprising a mass ofvolatile fragrant material in the front end portion of said body,whereby the oxygen passes through said material and is discharged in afragrant condition from the mouthpiece.
 3. A simulated smoking articleas defined in claim 1, wherein said body has at least one lateralopening spaced forwardly of the forward end of said container foradmitting air to mix with oxygen released from container whereby anair-oxygen mixture is discharged from the mouthpiece when suction isapplied thereto while the mouthpiece is compressed radially.
 4. Asimulated smoking article as defined in claim 3, wherein the mouthpieceis removable to expose said flexible tube for refilling said envelopewith oxygen when the levers are pivoted to separate the jaws.
 5. Asimulated smoking article as defined in claim 3, further comprising anouter covering on said body resembling a tobacco leaf wrapper.
 6. Asimulated smoking article as defined in claim 3, further comprisingvalve means at the rear end of the casing opening into said containerfor refilling the same with oxygen.